Traditional Brazilian clothing includes shirts, jeans and dresses made from inexpensive cotton. In Rio Grande do Sul, the southern plain region of Brazil, the cowboys (gauchos) wear a distinctive dress: baggy trousers called bombachas, ponchos, wide straw hats and boots. The cowherds (vaqueiros) in the Northeast region wear a coat, hat and leather chaps. In Amazon, the native Amerindians wear traditional tunics and paint their faces. They make use of beads and feathers to decorate their bodies. They are known for their distinctive hairstyles and body painting. However, these days, many native Americans have adopted a contemporary clothing and lifestyle. In Bahia, many women prefer traditional African clothing that includes a bright colorful shawl, a long full skirt and a turban-like head scarf. They are fond of colorful, beaded necklaces and bracelets. So, the national dress of Brazil can be various, not only bright and colourful, as we usually consider.
